La Liga has abandoned plans to host next month's match between Barcelona and Atlético Madrid in the United States, despite the Spanish top flight's continued interest in holding domestic games abroad in the future. Miami was designated as the venue for the fixture, a home game for Barcelona, on December 22, a move that would have ignited considerable controversy. No major European league has ever staged a competitive game in the US, although the concept has gained acceptance in some quarters as clubs seek revenue from their extensive global fanbases.
Now, La Liga, which would have required approval from Fifa, Uefa, and the Spanish Football Association to make the switch, has acknowledged that December is too soon to break the mold by hosting such a high-profile encounter nearly 4,500 miles away. The Guardian understands that La Liga remains eager to expand its reach abroad, with a renewed effort likely next season.
La Liga president, Javier Tebas, has long advocated for the staging of some league games overseas, stating in April that it "could happen in the 2025-26 season." The North American market is ripe for Spain's top clubs, but the Premier League, in particular, poses fierce competition. Six months ago, Fifa initiated a review of its policy regarding regular-season league games in overseas territories, following a settlement with the US-based event promoter Relevent Sports in an antitrust lawsuit brought by the company. This case arose after Fifa blocked a previous attempt by La Liga and Relevent to hold a match between Girona and Barcelona in Miami six years ago.
Any modification to Fifa's rules would pave the way for La Liga, or any other league, to depart from decades of tradition and stage domestic games abroad. Premier League clubs are believed to be closely monitoring developments, although the English top division has reiterated that there are no current plans to relocate games.
Source link: https://www.theguardian.com
